Whispers from the Beyond

Within twenty-four hours, I had returned to my happy home in (Dokki), Cairo. I spent many days imagining (Catherine) wandering the wilderness surrounding their house, searching for passersby, and I pictured her dying with a wooden stake through her chest... After months, I gathered my courage and sent a letter to Dr. (Richard)—or at least to his address—but I received no reply... I sent three more letters, until I finally received a letter from the new owner of the house, informing me that Dr. (Richard) no longer lived there, that he had moved to Australia with his family, and that they didn't know his new address. How many dark nights I spent reliving and analyzing what had happened. Was I delusional? Was it all a dream? Or was it simply the truth, that the girl's nerves had shattered under the weight of that hellish experiment? Or was it real, something I experienced when I was trapped alone in the basement with a vampire?... I don't know... and I will never know... Did someone kill (Catherine)—someone pure, like her father—and then flee to Australia? Or did she kill her family that night and come to my room, howling and crying? Or was it all just a cruel, elaborate prank they orchestrated so well?... So many questions without answers, and I don't expect any answers... All I know is that I will never attend another conference on blood diseases... I will never go to (Yorkshire) or (Australia)... And I will never, ever watch a Dracula movie again!... Many strands of hair turned gray as I waited for Count (Dracula)'s revenge to reach my home in (Dokki)—especially since I was, as far as I know, the last one who knew the truth. I sealed garlic behind the windows and doors, placed silver utensils, and hung Quranic verses... But nothing happened, thank God. Either God had shielded me, or my fears were just delusions... ....And two years after these events, I encountered a devil of a different kind in a different place, which made me forget all about what had happened... But that's another story.… 

 Dr. Rifaat Ismail

 Cairo - January 1992